It’s high time that we all become water wise

THE dry winter season is upon us in most parts of the country. Most of the country normally receives rainfall during the summer season, with the exception of the Western Cape, which receives rainfall in winter.

As we approach the dry season, it is high time that we use the available water wisely and sparingly, and prioritise water conservation in everything we do, especially as South Africa is a water-scarce and dry country.

South Africa is one of the 30 driest countries in the world and receives about half of the world average in terms of rainfall, so every drop counts.

We also have the reality of climate change, which has changed rainfall patterns, leading to less rain and high temperatures, in turn, leading to high levels of evaporation. This calls for behavioural change in our water use to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

Water security is in our hands. Population growth brings the need for more water to cater for everyone’s needs. Water conservation is everybody’s business. Advocacy is also important to build responsible and water-savvy communities who value every drop of water. We need to create awareness about water conservation and make it part of our daily routine. We must identify all leaks and fix them to save water in our households and other areas under our responsibility.

As responsible residents, we must also report leaks on the bulk water supply pipes. In addition, authorities responsible for water supply must ensure that leaks are fixed promptly.

Municipalities must also prioritise operations and maintenance to ensure that water supply runs smoothly and to prevent unnecessary water outages.